CEYLON

107

CEYLON.

Constitution and Government.

The authentic history of Ceylon begins in the fifth century b.c, when an invasion of Hindus from Northern India established the Sinhalese dynasty. The country was developed by Tamil colonists from South India. Buddhism was introduced from India in the third century B.C., and in comparative purity is still the religion of the majority of the inhabitants.

In 1505 the Portuguese formed settlements on the west and south, which were taken from them about the middle of the next century by the Dutch. In 1795-96 the British Government annexed the foreign settlements to the Presidency of Madras; in 1798 Ceylon was erected into a separate colony. In 1815 the whole island fell under British rule.

According to the terms of the Constitution established in 1831, 1833 and 1910, the administration is in the hands of a Governor, aided by an Executive Council of seven members — viz., the Officer commanding the Troops, the Colouial Secretary, the Attorney-General, the Controller of Revenue, the Colonial Treasurer, and two members nominated by the Governor, and a Legislative Council of 21 members, incluaing the Executive Council, four other office-holders, and ten unofficial members, six nominated by the Governor and four elected as representing the different races and classes in the community.

Governor. —

Colonial Secretary.— Row. \\. E. Stubbs. (Salary 2,000/,)

For purposes of general a<lministration, the island is divided into nine provinces, presided over by Government Agents, with assistants and subor- dinate headmen. There are three municipalities and twenty-one local boards mainly for sanitary purposes.

Area and Population

The population for 1911 shows an increase of 14 '98 per cent, on the population of 1901. The enumerated population was 4,105,535 at the census of Marcli, 1911, exclusive of the military and shipping. The following are the statistics of the census of 1911 (excluding the immigrant population on the tea estates, the military, and the shipping): —

Area: Population, 1911

Provinces

i

Area:

English

sqr. miles

Population, 1911

Provinces

English sqr. miles Total

Per sq. 1 mile 1

Total

419,007

86,269

144,696

315,600

Persq. mile

Western

Central

Northern

Southern

Eastern

1,432 1,062,315 2,300 392,709 3,363 369.452 2,146 619,010 4,036 183,339

741 1 170 109! 256 1 45;

North-Western

North Central

, Uva ....

Sabaragainuwa

Total , .

2,997 4,002 3,155 1,901

139 21 46

166

25.332

3,502,397

141

Total number of Europeans (including military, shipping, and estates), 7,625.

The race distribution of the population at the census of 1911 was a.s

follows:- —